Kanye West's state-funded concert, OCCRP: Government accused of using the concert to stifle protests

The Albanian government's decision to finance the concert of Ye, the artist formerly known as Kanye West, with around 400 million lekë ($4.9 million) from the state reserve fund has sparked criticism and accusations of political use of a cultural event.

According to an article by OCCRP , through its partner Shteg.org, critics claim that financial support for the July 11 concert in Tirana was used as a spectacle to distract attention from the anti-government protests that have been ongoing for weeks.

The funds were allocated through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sports, while the government has justified the decision as an investment in promoting Albania in the international arena and boosting tourism.

Writer and public commentator Fatos Lubonja has harshly criticized this intervention, describing it as a "bread and circuses" model, where public money is spent on entertainment while the country faces other problems.

"Maybe it's being done to oppose this protest, to organize a big spectacle so that people will say: Look how many people gathered there," Lubonja told Shteg.org.

He has raised questions over the fact that the state financed a private activity with an international artist, considering the decision a scandal and demanding more transparency in the use of public funds.

On the other hand, the Albanian government has defended the funding, arguing that the concert should not be seen solely as a private activity, as it is expected to bring economic impact to tourism, hotels, restaurants and other service sectors.

According to documents reviewed by Shteg.org and OCCRP, the Redcloud company had requested urgent financial support on July 3, arguing that the event was at risk of not taking place due to additional costs. The document also states that about 70% of tickets were purchased by foreign citizens.

Prime Minister Edi Rama has said the funding was necessary to avoid an embarrassing situation for Albania, after thousands of foreign visitors bought tickets. He has claimed that the concert could generate at least 100 million euros in revenue for the economy through tourism and accommodation.

Meanwhile, journalist Elsa Demo has described the financing of the concert as part of a model where culture is used as a political spectacle, arguing that such events can influence public perception and divert attention from civic engagement.

Economist Zef Preçi has also raised concerns about the method of financing, arguing that the concert was announced earlier and that state support, if it were to be provided, should have gone through a transparent and competitive procedure, not through an emergency mechanism.

The debate over the concert comes at a time when Tirana has been gripped by daily anti-government protests. They began initially against a luxury coastal resort project linked to Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of US President Donald Trump, and then expanded to opposition to developments in protected areas, coastal construction and allegations of corruption.

The Rama government has denied the corruption allegations. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sports and the Redcloud company did not respond to Shteg.org's questions about the reasons for the financing and the way public funds were used.

The OCCRP article also mentions that Ye remains a controversial figure internationally, as several European countries have canceled or hindered his performances following his considered pro-Nazi statements and use of Nazi imagery.